BOB MACKIN -- Sun Media

"We're a good defensive team, we proved that," Brendan Morrison said yesterday as players packed up their gear. "At times this season we had trouble scoring goals."

Canucks' 222 regular season goals were the fewest scored among the Western conference's playoff entrants. Eight of their 12 playoff games were decided by one goal, including Thursday's 2-1 double-overtime elimination loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

"The lack of offence was the difference in the playoffs," captain Markus Naslund said. "We've got to be able to muster up more than two goals a game."

Naslund vowed to do better next season. He blamed his disappointing 24-goal regular season on the trade of linemate Todd Bertuzzi.

"It affected me more than I expected, it took me a long time before I found my groove," Naslund said. "I never played the type of hockey I know I'm capable of. I feel great physically, I know it's more of a mental thing."

Naslund did score four times in the playoffs. By comparison, Daniel and Henrik Sedin combined for only four goals.

Meanwhile, goaltender Roberto Luongo changed his story on why he missed the start of Thursday's overtime.

"It was not an equipment problem, it was an illness," he said. "Nothing serious."